The Jews, under Joshua’s leadership, have just made an unwise peace treaty with the Gibeonites. A heathen people who lied to Joshua about their identity, in order to be spared the edge of Israel’s (very sharp) sword.

But soon the Israeli army learned that they had promised safety to a group of cursed Canaanites!

Should they absolve their agreement, kill them anyway?

After all, THEY lied!

Verse 10 resolves the issue, properly. “This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.” Joshua 9:20

In essence, “We will keep our word.”

Why?

It goes all the way back to Moses, to the Ten Commandments, and (really) well before that! “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.” Exodus 20:16

Later David will illustrate this principle in action, when he commends the man who … “sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalm 15:4, who does what he says, even if it hurts!

But … there’s more in our Joshua verse than what we’ve discussed thus far.

See if you can find what I mean. “This we will do to them; we will even let them live, LEST WRATH BE UPON US, because of the oath which we sware unto them.”

“LEST WRATH BE UPON US?”

Whose “Wrath?”

I can answer that question.

Not the wrath of the poor, weak Gibeonites!

Not the wrath of other Canaanite Tribes surrounding the Jewish encampment!

Not the wrath of the gods and goddesses of the gentiles!

BUT THE WRATH OF AN ALMIGHTY GOD!

Who has taught us to be people of Truth.

Who enforces His Commandments!

Who also opined (through Solomon) in Ecclesiastes 5:5-6. “Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel (witness), that it was an error: WHEREFORE SHOULD GOD BE ANGRY AT THY VOICE, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

God becomes ANGRY at the person who does not keep his vows, promises, commitments!

That’s enough!

For today.

Is ANYONE reading here this morning … who can already think of a promise (or two or three) you’ve made … and not kept?

Had maybe even forgotten?

Be careful.

“Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin … WHEREFORE SHOULD GOD BE ANGRY AT THY VOICE, and destroy the work of thine hands?”

Wow!

How mad?

To destroy the work of thy hands!

What a lesson.

What a thought.

If I were preaching in a Church setting, I’d give the invitation now.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

But here online … the Holy Spirit can give that invitation, far better than me in fact.

 

Seems like there have been a lot of them lately, travel days.

But I am excited!

I’ll leave the motel room here in Jacksonville (Florida) in an hour or so, return the rental car at the airport, and look for my American Airlines gate! This morning I have to connect in Charlotte … in route to Chattanooga.

There Debbie will pick me up, with the car already loaded to go again … and we head to Clermont, Georgia for three nights of preaching! Christian Hill Baptist Church there, with Pastor Jim Ellis and his people.

Still … I wanted to write you all and remind you that tomorrow morning, the Lord willing, another Joshua Lesson will be written and posted.

Yesterday was a day of double-duty, really I should say DOUBLE-PLEASURE! I was honored to preach for two of my friends, godly and faithful Pastors who have stood for the Truth many years. One yesterday morning, the other last night, of course!

This portrait hangs in the Church Vestibule, Pastor Bumpers as a young man, what a soul-winner he is!

Pastor Harper Bumpers, who missed the Meeting due to sickness, he being 83 years old I might add. Saint Augustine Road Baptist Church south of Jacksonville.

This is Pastor Jowers in his study, photo made last night after the Service. The man dearly loves the Word of God!

And … Pastor Dewayne Jowers, capable leader (under-shepherd we used to say) of the Grace Baptist Church in the little City of Baldwin, Florida.

I love these men of God.

And to you, our regular readers, thanks for visiting the Website once again.

God’s Word, the Bible, a perfect Masterpiece!!!

Until tomorrow, the Lord willing,

Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I might call today’s Lesson something like this: “The Occasional Value of WAITING!”

And our thought still centers on the 9th chapter of Joshua. Yes, the story of the Gibeonites and the way they deceived Joshua and the Jews. (A massive amount of Bible Literature exists on this event, nearly every commentary on the book of Joshua is “heavy” with discussion over this ruse.)

Here’s the essence of it: A neighboring Canaanite tribe (most often called the Gibeonites), among the enemies of God who were to be destroyed … came to Joshua “in disguise!”  Dressing in old clothes like they had marched a long distance, eating bread that looked old and ruining … they asked for asylum! “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.” Joshua 9:3-5, wherein notice that (apparently) one can lie by “actions” as well as by words!

So … Joshua (unwisely) made a treaty with them. “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware (agreed) unto them.” Joshua 9:15

As a result, Israel will be perpetually living near her wicked enemies, at least some of them! In fact, these (blatantly ungodly) “cursed ones” will be living “within” Israel’s God-given Territory, the Promised Land! (Once you make a promise, a vow, it clearly NEEDS to be kept, upheld! Here’s one trait of a godly man: “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalm 15:4, keeping his word, even if it hurts! Parents … that probably even means promises made to children!)

A “blot” in Israel’s handling of life in their new land, the deceptive Gibeonites.

Oh, I nearly forgot.

The point of today’s Lesson. “And it came to pass AT THE END OF THREE DAYS after they had made a league with them, that THEY HEARD that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.” Joshua 9:16

Wow!

Had they only waited!

Just a few hours, only 72 it looks like!

They would have “heard” the truth!

There are verses (lots of them) like this: “But they that wait upon the LORD …”

But, in the Gibeonite case, Israel did not WAIT on anyone!

So verses 17-19 tell … “And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their (the Gibeonite’s) cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.”

Whole cities (at least 4) full of iniquity, abominable people … whom Israel cannot touch, due to a premature decision!

In a sense, bad leadership!

In a sense, a mistake the consequences of which will impact Israel for many years!

In a sense, a Lesson on (at least sometimes) … WAITING A BIT!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Of course if one has a precise verse of Scripture telling him or her what to do … DO NOT WAIT. Obey immediately. Not to do so becomes (in that case) sinful delay!

Isaiah 28:16 ends with these words, further admonition: “He that believeth shall not make haste.”

One more “Wow!”

 

A full plane, early this morning from Chattanooga to Charlotte! And as nearly always, I was in the rear, but I did get my window seat!

Yes, before dawn this morning we were up … driving to the Chattanooga Airport! Where I caught a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina … connecting to Jacksonville, Florida. To preach three Sermons at the Saint Augustine Road Baptist Church here. Brother Harper Bumpers is the good Pastor here.

Would you mind a few pictures?

When flying, I love to look for other aircraft in the sky. Here’s the vapor trail of a westbound airliner early this morning. I made the photo from 22,000 feet, so he’s at least at 35,000, I would say.

See the coast, the Atlantic? Our flight (from Charlotte) into Jacksonville was out over the ocean for quite a while. Amazing machines, indeed!

And when flying I always try to have a book handy, too. Today I have been studying for a new Series on the Flood, Genesis 6-9, the Lord willing.

Oh, I was about to forget to tell you. Sunday night, the Lord willing, I will have the honor of once again preaching at the Grace Baptist Church in Baldwin, Florida. Where Brother Dewayne Jowers is the good Pastor.

Pray for these Meetings, please.

Tomorrow morning I plan to resume our Joshua Lessons.

I just couldn’t get it all done today!

I’m writing you now from a nice motel room (Hampton Inn) not for from the Church.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I sure do not want to disappoint anyone eager to study God’s Word!

 

(If someone enjoys this little diversion, please let me know.)

 

Joshua chapter 9 … records one of the most deceptive plots ever employed upon Israel. A tribal people, the Gibeonites (who were wicked Canaanites slated for destruction) were also known as Hivites, according to verse 7 of our chapter. See Exodus 34:11 for God’s “will” concerning these people: “Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the HIVITE, and the Jebusite.” Add Deuteronomy 7:2 here as well: “And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them (including the Hivites, the Gibeonites) before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt MAKE NO COVENANT with them, nor shew mercy unto them.”

Well, apparently these Gibeonites/Hivites fell under the “fear of the Lord!” And subsequently devised a plan to “spare” their own lives! (The city of Gibeon was near Ai and no more than five miles from Jerusalem! Yet the inhabitants of that place met Joshua and the Jews and “acted” as if they were from far, far away!)

They “marched” those very few miles to Joshua and said/lied: “We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.” The word used for “league” (in Hebrew beriyth”) is the same word as “covenant,” a strong word of “bond!” A genuine commitment, far more significant than a mere “contract” even!

This is a dangerous situation for Israel!

The enemy portraying himself as a friend!

Yet verse 3 says: “The inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,” again this is the Fear of the Lord, folks! These words are similar to those of Rahab earlier in the Book!

Anyway … verse 15 tells us more: “And Joshua MADE PEACE WITH THEM, and MADE A LEAGUE with them, to LET THEM LIVE: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” Based on the false evidence the Gibeonites presented.

Looks like here … Joshua made a mistake!

Peace with a Canaanite people!

But if I am right … surely Scripture will give at least a “hint” that Joshua and his cabinet may have erred a bit! (Something we seldom read of that great Warrior, Joshua the Son of Nun.)

Now notice with me Joshua 9:14 … “And the men (Joshua and his advisors) took of their victuals (food that had been made to look old and mouldy), and ASKED NOT COUNSEL AT THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.”

They made a treaty with evil people … and did not seek God’s Counsel anytime during the whole process!

Wow!

Numbers 27:21, written specifically for Joshua, taught: “And he (Joshua) shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ASK COUNSEL for him after the judgment of Urim BEFORE THE LORD … AT HIS (GOD’S) WORD THEY SHALL GO OUT, and AT HIS WORD THEY SHALL COME IN, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

Seeking God’s “Will” in all we do!

Anyone reading here about to make a decision?

About to make some significant change in life?

Just met a new “friend?”

A “job” situation?

“Church” decision?

FIRST … before anything else you do … seek the Mind of the Lord in that matter at hand!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Though those words from Proverbs had not yet been written in Joshua’s day … the truth they represent existed!

Joshua had a clear avenue of approaching God … of seeking His Guidance … but in this (Gibeonite) situation, he obviously acted too hastily!

May we learn from his mistake!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell